Putin Meets US Envoy In Moscow Ahead Of Trump’s Ukraine Sanctions Deadline

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, the Kremlin confirmed, just two days before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Russia to halt its military offensive in Ukraine or face new sanctions.

Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could end the war within 24 hours of taking office, has given Moscow until Friday to show progress toward peace or risk further punitive measures. So far, peace talks—three rounds of which were held in Istanbul—have failed to produce a ceasefire, as Russia intensifies drone and missile strikes and accelerates its military push in Ukraine.

The Kremlin released footage of Putin greeting Witkoff but did not disclose details of their conversation.

Ahead of the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Washington to increase pressure on Moscow. “It is very important to strengthen all the levers in the arsenal of the United States, Europe, and the G7 so that a ceasefire truly comes into effect immediately,” he said on social media.

Sanctions Loom

While the White House has not specified the nature of potential sanctions, Trump has previously threatened “secondary tariffs” targeting Russia’s major trading partners, including China and India—measures that could significantly impact global trade.

“We’re going to see what happens,” Trump said Tuesday when asked about possible actions. “We’ll make that determination at that time.”

Moscow has condemned the threats of additional tariffs, calling them “illegitimate.”

Stalemate on the Ground

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year, has claimed tens of thousands of lives, devastated infrastructure, and displaced millions. Moscow is demanding territorial concessions and a halt to Western support for Ukraine, while Kyiv insists on a full ceasefire and, increasingly, international support for political change in Russia.

Zelensky last week urged Western allies to back “regime change” in Moscow and reiterated Ukraine’s call for an immediate ceasefire.

Nuclear Tensions Rise

The conflict has also sparked renewed nuclear tensions. Trump recently said he had deployed two nuclear submarines to the region, following a heated online exchange with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. While Trump did not clarify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, their precise locations remain undisclosed.

In response, Russia on Monday ended its moratorium on deploying nuclear-capable intermediate-range missiles, claiming the US had positioned similar weapons near its borders. The Kremlin urged “caution” regarding the submarine deployment and labeled the ongoing US-Russia talks as “important, substantial, and helpful.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian shelling in the Zaporizhzhia region overnight killed at least two people and wounded 10 others at a holiday camp.

As Friday’s deadline approaches, all eyes remain on the outcome of the Moscow talks and whether they can deliver a breakthrough—or trigger a new phase of geopolitical escalation.